It’s not uncommon for an accident victim to feel completely blindsided when their insurance company refuses to pay out. The shock of a denied insurance claim can make an already stressful situation worse, regardless of if you’ve been injured in an auto accident, are filing a disability claim, or are dealing with property damage. Insurance companies in Ontario are under financial pressure, as, according to Statistics Canada, claims ratios have been climbing steadily, peaking at over 90% in late 2024. With rising vehicle prices, parts shortages, and more frequent collisions, there are many economic reasons why insurers might limit payouts.  [...]

If you're involved in an accident, you're not just dealing with injuries or property damage. You're also faced with critical deadlines that can affect whether your insurance company will honour your policy at all. The consequences of missing those deadlines can lead to a denied claim which can have devastating consequences, as seen in a recent case told by CTV News. At McNally Gervan LLP, we help people understand the deadlines and decision points that follow an injury. Here's what you need to know about how long you can wait to submit an insurance claim in Ontario. What You Need [...]

Insurance benefits help people recover from an accident or injury. The system works when claims are based on facts, but when a person includes false information or exaggerates part of a story, this dishonesty has far reaching consequences. Submitting false information on a claim, even if it seems minor, poses real risks. According to recent studies, insurance fraud investigations rose 76% in 2024, and nearly two-thirds of that involved auto insurance fraud. These numbers are pushing insurance providers to act faster when they suspect fraud, and the penalties for making a false insurance claim can be serious, even when the [...]

Recovering from a house fire is about more than rebuilding walls and replacing belongings. It’s about trying to restore a sense of safety and control in the face of unexpected loss. If you’ve experienced a fire, you’re likely counting on your insurance to step in and help. But many Ontario homeowners find themselves asking: how long will this take? What happens if there are delays? And where do I turn if things don’t go as expected? Home insurance rates are rising faster than inflation in many Canadian provinces, with the national average increase coming in at 5.28% in 2025. Eastern provinces [...]

Many Canadians who experience serious illness or injury find themselves facing unexpected out-of-pocket medical costs—even when they have insurance. If you’ve paid for care or treatment this year, you may be wondering: can you claim medical expenses covered by insurance on your tax return?  The answer depends on whether you were reimbursed, who paid for the expense, and whether the cost qualifies under the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules.  In this post, we’ll walk through what expenses are claimable, how insurance affects your tax credit, and how to calculate your eligible amount. We’ve drawn on the CRA’s official medical expense guidelines [...]

Wildfires and other extreme weather events made the Summer of 2024 the most destructive season in Canadian history for insured losses, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).   With over $7 billion in insured losses, the record setting Summer of last year needs to be taken in context; as the IBC notes, extreme weather only figures to get worse in the future, and the efforts to coordinate and invest in climate adaptation have been overshadowed by discussions around emissions. It boils down to this: More Canadians will be filing fire insurance claims and other property insurance claims as a result [...]

When an illness or injury keeps you from working—or when a car accident suddenly turns your life upside down—insurance should offer a safety net. It’s meant to be there when you need support the most. But for many people in Ontario, the experience is anything but simple. Instead of getting help quickly, they’re met with long delays, vague explanations, and increasing frustration. How long do insurance claims take? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of claim, type of injuries, how the insurer handles the file, and whether everything is submitted on time. In this post, we’ll walk you [...]

Applying for long-term disability insurance benefits is often something people do in the middle of a life-altering event. You’re not planning for it; you’re reacting to it. Maybe an accident threw your life off course, or a chronic illness has finally made it impossible to keep working. Whatever the reason, LTD insurance is supposed to be there to catch you. And it can be. But it’s also not a cure-all. There are limits, there are gaps, and there are misunderstandings—some of them built right into the policies themselves. Before you file your claim—or while you're wondering why benefits haven’t kicked in [...]

When the temperatures drop and Ontario’s roads turn slick with snow and ice, many drivers ask the same question: Are winter tires required by law in Ontario? No, there is no legal requirement to have winter tires installed on your vehicle, but there are other implications–for your safety and for insurance purposes–that you shouldn’t ignore.  At McNally Gervan LLP, we’ve seen firsthand how winter driving conditions contribute to serious collisions and insurance disputes. We’ve also seen how simple choices—like installing winter tires early—can reduce the risks of an accident and even affect your legal options in the unfortunate event of a [...]